O. Marseille: "I want to sell the Vélodrome, it costs too much money" (B. Payan, Mayor of Marseille)

"I want to sell the stadium (Orange Vélodrome) because it costs me too much money. I want to sell it because it is a financial mess. I said this when I was part of the opposition. I'll do it if I find a buyer," said Benoit Payan, Mayor of Marseille (FRA), on Facebook on 03/02/2021.

The words of the Marseille Mayor echo the presentation, on 02/02/2021, of a financial audit of the city carried out by the firm Deloitte, which revealed a particularly difficult situation for the community. "The funds are almost empty," said Benoit Payan.

Olympique de Marseille became the sole manager of the Stade Orange Vélodrome on 22/12/2018. The club pays the City of Marseille, owner of the stadium, a rent based on a fixed part of €5m and a variable part that caps the total rent at €9m, calculated on the basis of sports results, ticketing, signage and hospitality revenue. On the expenditure side, the total cost of the venue to the local authority is estimated at €18m per year, according to a report by the Court of Auditors.

"I will manage in the months, the years to come to find a buyer. It's no longer…